Main article: Byzantium
Justinian I
Code of civil law
Saint Sophie Cathedral
Diplomacy
Pictures (photos, drawings)
Table of the reign of Emperor Justinian: polyteca
Ways to achieve Justinian's goal
Essay about polytheque unistianna 1
Justinian's cultural achievements
The purpose of Justinian's rule
Questions for this article:
The art of Byzantium under Justinian the Great. 6th century
Under Justinian, all the trends that had emerged earlier in culture received their further development.
1. Architecture.
One of the first architectural monuments of Justinian's reign is Church of San Vittale in Ravenna (Italy). This church amazes with its interior decoration: mosaics completely cover the walls of the temple, smalt dissolves the wall, destroying its materiality. Noteworthy is the depiction of two processions bringing gifts to the Christian temple: one of them is led by Emperor Justinian, and the other by Empress Theodora.
Here they are depicted as ideal rulers, overshadowed by the reflection of Divine glory.
The most complete, unsurpassed embodiment of Byzantineism that has remained over the centuries is the Temple of St. Sophia of Constantinople. The construction of this cathedral became Justinian's life's work. Sophia of Constantinople surpasses the Roman Pantheon and St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. In this temple the feeling of the enormity of space is incomparably brighter and stronger. This cathedral was to become the main temple of the new Constantinople.
For the construction of the cathedral, forces and means were used equal in modern times to the financing of a large military-industrial program. But these means paid off - the beauty of this cathedral brought Byzantium more allies and income than its numerous wars. The architects of Sophia of Constantinople were two geniuses, the best representatives of the late ancient scientific intelligentsia:
- the great mathematician Isidore of Miletus,
- engineer, professional architect Anfillius from Troll.
In the construction of this cathedral we see a fusion of the highest scientific and artistic culture with the solution of a constructive task that is amazing in its courage.
The main difficulty was the enormity of the construction: it was necessary to erect a structure 100 meters long and cover it with a dome with a diameter of 32 meters, raising this dome to a 40-meter height (14-story building). At that time this was an almost impossible task. The Byzantines, unlike Roman architects, did not have the raw material for the production of concrete - volcanic sand.
The concept of the temple is a domed canopy. The center of the cathedral was a gigantic dome, but thanks to the reduction and fragmentation of architectural elements downwards, the entire structure seems devoid of gravity, as if hanging. The authors found a way out of the intricacy of numerous arches and vaults that carry the main load and semi-domes adjacent to the main dome. The main dome has 40 windows in diameter, so it appears to be floating in the air. The vault of the temple is supported by 104 columns, the material for which was brought from all over the post-ancient world: green columns were made of Fassolian marble, white ones from Egyptian porphyry. There are columns brought from Syria, from the Temple of the Sun; 8 columns made of green jasper were brought from the Temple of Artemis. Ivory, semi-precious stones, inlay, and carvings with gilding were used as decoration. The cathedral was built in record time -
5 years. Thematic mosaics on the walls and vaults of the temple appeared later in the 9th-10th centuries, the last mosaics date back to the 12th century. Some of them have survived to this day.
Intended for patriarchal and imperial ceremonies, the cathedral was built on the highest hill of the city above the shores of the Sea of Marmara.
According to legend, Justinian, upon entering the built cathedral, said the following words: “Solomon, I have surpassed you,” referring to the legendary Jerusalem Temple. Over the past 15 centuries, no one dared to repeat the same words to Justinian and the cathedral he built.
St. Sophia Cathedral has gone through a long and complex history:
- suffered from earthquakes three times in the 6th, 10th and 14th centuries;
— after the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, it was converted into the main mosque of the Turkish empire: 4 minaret towers grew around Hagia Sophia, matching the size of the great church;
— and only in 1930 this temple was turned into a museum of three religions.
It is still easy to understand the words of our ancestors, sent 1000 years ago by the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir to Constantinople: “We do not know whether we were in heaven or on earth. But there is no such view and such beauty on earth. We only know that God comes with man there.” Procopius of Caesarea in the 6th century wrote about Hagia Sophia: “Everyone immediately understands that such a work was completed not by human power or art, but by God’s permission.”
In addition to Sophia of Constantinople, many other temples were built under Justinian. In one capital there were 25 churches. Architecture became Justinian's real passion: in addition to churches, fountains, wells, and cisterns were built to store fresh water in case of a city siege by the enemy.
2. Iconography.
The Greeks and Romans believed that gods could inhabit statues and built statues of the gods in their temples.
Justinian's reign in the Byzantine Empire
Christianity abandoned sculpture, since according to Christian teaching, internal, spiritual beauty is important, not physical. It is also impossible to depict God in painting, since he exists outside of existence. Therefore, even during the period of early Christianity, either figures of praying people or the image of the Mother of God and Child were depicted in the Roman catacombs.
Under Justinian, icons - portraits of saints made on boards - became widespread as decorative decorations for churches. Not many of the early icons have survived. The Byzantine style of icon painting is an image of a saint with an elongated face and an ascetic expression, with almond-shaped eyes. All lines of the drawing were written in gold.
3. Hymnography.
Under Justinian, hymnography, a special form of liturgical chant, became widespread. Singing in churches was accompanied by organ music.
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Main article: Byzantium
The Byzantine Empire reached its greatest prosperity during the reign of the emperor Justinian I(527-565). At this time, Byzantium not only repelled the onslaught of neighboring Persia, Turkic, Germanic and Slavic tribes, but also almost doubled its territory, conquering the Vandal state in North Africa, the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy and the southeastern part Visigothic kingdom in Spain.
Achievements of the Empire of Justinian I
Code of civil law
Under Justinian, the most famous monument of Byzantine legal thought was created - the Code of Civil Law (Code). It was a unified legislative code, which was based on the legislative provisions of Roman law. However, completely new ideas also appear here. Thus, it was in the Code that for the first time the theory of natural human rights was legally recorded, according to which all people are free from nature. Many provisions of the Code facilitated the release of slaves and protected the principle of private property. As a legislative code of a Christian state, the Code also defended the rights of the church.
Saint Sophie Cathedral
The Hagia Sophia Cathedral, built under Justinian in Constantinople, became a symbol of the greatness of the Christian Byzantine Empire. Material from the site http://wikiwhat.ru
This monumental structure, richly decorated with frescoes and mosaics, stunned the imagination of its contemporaries. Due to the fact that the grandiose dome with a diameter of 31.5 meters rested on many thin columns, from a distance it seemed that it was literally floating above the cathedral. Therefore, a legend spread among travelers that the dome of Hagia Sophia was suspended from the sky as a sign of the special favor of the Lord God towards Emperor Justinian.
Diplomacy
Leading an active foreign policy, the Byzantine Empire under Justinian I achieved great success in the field of diplomacy. Byzantine diplomats, trained in the languages of almost all peoples of the world, developed a procedure for receiving and sending embassies, created formulas for international agreements, which became a standard for many nations.
Pictures (photos, drawings)
On this page there is material on the following topics:
1261 year in the history of Byzantium
Justinian as a politician
How the territory of Byzantium expanded during the reign of Justinian
International relations in Byzantium periods of development
Achievement by the Byzantine Empire
Questions for this article:
What were the main achievements of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Justinian I?
Material from the site http://WikiWhat.ru
Golden Age of Byzantium under Justinian 1
The Byzantine Empire reached its greatest power under Emperor Justinian I (527-565).
Justinian I came from a poor peasant family. His uncle Justin rose from ordinary soldiers to the rank of commander and, having seized the throne by force, became emperor. Justin brought his nephew closer to the court and gave him a good education. After the death of his uncle, Justinian I inherited the throne.
Emperor Justinian I possessed considerable political wisdom and courage. He significantly renewed the life of the empire with reforms, revived international trade, which became not only a means of replenishing the state treasury, but also a source of prosperity for the entire people. In the character of Justinian I, along with energy, will and foresight, coexisted the bad traits inherent in many great politicians - hypocrisy, treachery, cruelty.
The wife of Justinian I, Empress Theodora, also became famous. In her early youth, Theodora was an actress. Although in those days the acting profession was considered shameful and unworthy of decent people, Emperor Justinian I, captivated by her extraordinary beauty, despised the opinion of society and married Theodora, making her empress. Theodora was distinguished by her sharp mind, authority and extraordinary fearlessness.
Justinian's Wars
Emperor Justinian I planned to reunite the former lands of the Roman Empire. In 534, the emperor sent the commander Belisarius against the Vandals who had settled in North Africa and were robbing merchant ships in the Mediterranean Sea. The Vandals were Arian heretics, and therefore they could not come into agreement with the local Orthodox population, who showed complete indifference to the troubles of their enslavers. The well-armed troops of the Byzantines quickly dealt with the Vandal kingdom, North Africa with the city of Carthage became a Byzantine province.
Then Belisarius went to Italy. The Byzantines easily conquered the island of Sicily. However, in Italy itself they met with stubborn resistance from the Ostrogoths. In the fight against Belisarius, the Ostrogoths used runaway slaves, granting them freedom, while the Byzantines sought to maintain slavery in Italy and severely punished slaves for any disobedience. However, most of the inhabitants of Italy still did not support the Ostrogoths, not only because they were Germans, but also because the Ostrogoths, like the Vandals, adhered to Arianism. The Byzantines conquered most of Italy, creating a special governorship (exarchate) on the conquered lands with its capital in Ravenna.
As the war in Italy neared its end, Justinian I sent troops to Spain. The Visigoths dominated Spain. However, here, as in Italy, the local population did not help the Goths. The powerful Spanish church was especially at enmity with them. The Byzantines easily defeated the Visigoths, captured the southern regions of Spain and captured the Strait of Gibraltar.
Church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople
Emperor Justinian I, having accumulated great wealth, built temples, fortresses, palaces throughout the empire, and redeveloped entire cities. The most famous building of Justinian I was the Temple of Hagia Sophia (i.e., the Wisdom of God) in Constantinople. Now Constantinople is located within Turkey. The Turks call it Istanbul, and Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofia in Turkish) became a mosque.
This grandiose building remained unsurpassed for a long time either in Europe or Asia. The temple, built of brick, was decorated inside with rare marble and decorated with mosaics that depicted Christian symbols and floral patterns. The attraction of the temple is its huge dome with a diameter of 31.5 m. Numerous windows are cut into the base of the dome. When a person, standing in the temple, looks up at the dome, then because of the light pouring from the windows and because of the large distance to the dome, the thin openings between the windows are not visible, and it seems as if the dome is floating above the temple without support. Once upon a time it was even rumored that the dome of Hagia Sophia was supposedly suspended on golden chains to the very sky. When the temple was consecrated (537), Emperor Justinian I exclaimed: “Glory to the Lord, who deigned me to do such a thing! Solomon, I have defeated you!
Code of Roman law
Another great undertaking of Emperor Justinian I was the creation of the body of Roman law (in Latin - Corpus juris tivihs). Justinian I ordered to bring together and streamline the various teachings and opinions of famous Roman jurists who lived in previous centuries. And to this day, Roman law underlies the civil law of most modern countries.
After the death of Justinian I, Byzantium, for many centuries, step by step cedes more and more lands to its numerous enemies. Byzantium will never regain the power and splendor of the Justinian era.
Procopius of Caesarea on the 532 uprising in Constantinople
In Byzantium, a rebellion unexpectedly broke out among the people, which, contrary to expectation, spread extremely and had the most disastrous end for the people and the synclite. The city was set on fire, as if it were in the hands of the enemy. The Temple of Sophia, the baths of Zeuxippus and the royal palaces... fell victim to the flames, and with them the great porticoes... many houses of the richest people and great wealth. The king and his wife, together with some synclitists, locked themselves in the Palatium and remained inactive there. (The rebels) gave each other a conventional cry: “Nika! Nika!" (i.e. “win!
What achievements did the Byzantine Empire become famous for under Justinian?
win!”), and that is why that rebellion is still known under the name Nika...
Meanwhile, the king had a meeting: what should you do, whether to stay here or flee on ships. Much has been said in favor of both opinions. Finally, Queen Theodora said:
Now, I think, is not the time to discuss whether it is proper for a woman to show courage in front of men and to appear before the timid with youthful courage. Those whose affairs are in the greatest danger have no choice but to arrange them in the best possible way. In my opinion, flight, even if it ever brought salvation and, perhaps, will bring it now, is unworthy. Those who were born cannot help but die, but for those who once reigned, being a fugitive is unbearable. May I not lose this purple, may I not live to see the day when those I meet do not call me mistress! If you want to save yourself by flight, sir, it is not difficult. We have a lot of money, and the sea is nearby, and there are ships. But be careful that, having been saved, you do not have to choose death over salvation. I like the ancient saying that royal power is the best shroud.
So said the queen; her words inspired everyone. Strengthened in spirit, the advisers were already talking about how they could defend themselves if the rebels attacked them... The king (then) put all his hope in Belisarius...
(Belisarius) decided it was better to attack the people, this countless number of people standing on the hippodrome and jostling in great disorder. He drew his sword, ordered his soldiers to follow his example, and with a cry rushed into the middle of the crowd. The people, who did not know the formation, seeing that the warriors covered in armor... were striking everyone without mercy, gave themselves up to flight... The victory was complete, a great many people were killed.
Procopius of Caesarea on how the Byzantines learned the secret of silk
At that time, certain monks who arrived from India, knowing that King Justinian was in difficulty, since the Persians did not sell raw silk to the Romans, promised the king to introduce this raw silk so that the Romans ( This refers to the Sasanian power in Iran of the 3rd-7th centuries, the constant rival of first the Roman and then the Byzantine Empire.) may not have received this product either from the Persians, their enemies, or from any other peoples. For they spent a long time in a land located above India, (inhabited by) numerous peoples and called Serinda ( Serinda is what the Byzantines called China. It is possible, however, that this refers to one of the regions of Central Asia.), where they precisely studied the art of this kind so that it would be possible to obtain raw silk in the Roman land.
Continuing to explore and find out whether the words spoken by the monks were true, that some worms produce raw silk, (the king learned) that it is impossible to transport live worms, but their embryos, on the contrary, are convenient for transportation and are completely light. The eggs laid by each of the worms are countless. These people (i.e., the monks) buried the eggs in the dung long after they were laid and after some time they took out live worms. The king (promised) to bestow gifts on the husbands, urging them to fulfill their word.
And they again went to Serinda and delivered the eggs to Byzantium. When the worms hatched in this way, they released them to feed on mulberry leaves, and from them later raw silk came into being in the Roman land. Such were the circumstances with silk during the war between the Romans and the Persians.
From the Code of Justinian 0 justice and law
A student of law must first of all find out where the word “law” comes from. Law got its name from “justice”, because... law is the science of what is good and just.
1. According to our merits, we (legal experts) were called priests, for we care about justice, proclaim the concept of good and fair, separating the just from the unjust, distinguishing what is permitted from what is unlawful, wanting the good to improve not only through fear of punishment, but also through rewards. , striving for a true, if I am not mistaken, philosophy, and not for an imaginary one.
2. The study of law is divided into two parts: public and private (law). Public law refers to the position of the Roman state, private law refers to the benefit of individuals... Private law is divided into three parts, for it is composed of natural norms, or from (prescriptions) of peoples, or from (prescriptions) civil.
3. Natural law is that which nature has taught to all living things: for this right is inherent not only in the human race, but also in all animals that are born on earth and in the sea, and in birds; this includes the combination of a man and a woman, which we call marriage, this also includes the generation of children, this also includes education; we see that animals, furthermore wild, have knowledge of this right.
4. The law of nations is the right enjoyed by the peoples of mankind; one can easily understand its difference from natural law: the latter is common to all animals, and the former is only for people (in their relationships) among themselves.<…>
5. Civil law is not completely separated from natural law and from the law of peoples and does not adhere to it in everything; if we add something to the common law or exclude something from it, we create our own, that is, civil law.
6. Civil law is that which comes from laws, plebiscites... the opinions of wise men.
Justinian's reign
The most significant era in the early history of Byzantium, when all the noted features of its development were fully reflected, was the reign of Emperor Justinian (527-565). The reign of Justinian and earlier of his uncle Justin was preceded by the extraordinary strengthening of the senatorial landowning aristocracy, whose representative Anastasius was placed on the imperial throne at the end of the 5th century. Under Anastasia, a contradiction between the interests of large secular and church-monastic land ownership emerged with great force. The secular aristocracy, which had extensive latifundia in the eastern lands of Byzantium - in Egypt, Syria and Asia Minor, supported the separatist tendencies of these provinces, hiding behind the heresy of the Monophysites, adherents of the doctrine according to which Christ is not a god-man, but a god, i.e., has only one nature - divine, Anastasius, like most of the senatorial nobility, was inclined to support the Monophysites in order to strengthen their positions in the East. But he had to face the embittered resistance of the Orthodox clergy, who had behind them the masses of the capital’s population, the ruined Thracian columns and even part of the army. Although the uprising of dissatisfied elements, led by Vitalian, was suppressed (515), after the death of Anastasius there was such confusion in the ranks of the ruling class that the new emperor was nominated not by the Senate, but by the army. This was Justin, an illiterate Illyrian peasant who rose to military service. His nephew Justinian, who received an excellent education, actually ruled under Justin, and in 527 he himself became emperor; Justinian's wife Theodora was a circus actress before her marriage.
The emperors of the new dynasty sharply changed the course of church policy, focusing on the influential Orthodox clergy, which had a particularly strong position in the European provinces of the empire. Justinian began his reign with a decree on the extermination of all heretics, including the Monophysites; Heretics were given a three-month period to convert to Orthodoxy, after which they were subject to restrictions in all civil rights and severe persecution.
In addition to the Orthodox Church, the new emperor hoped to find support for himself in the bureaucracy, whose cadres were significantly expanded, as well as in the army, on which enormous amounts of money were spent and whose commanders, thanks to Justinian’s aggressive foreign policy, acquired great influence in public life.
The maintenance of the army and numerous officials, wars and the extensive construction activities of Justinian - all this quickly exhausted the savings of Emperor Anastasius and required a significant increase in tax burdens falling on peasants and urban
craft population. Violence, extortion and predation of the bureaucracy further aggravated
difficult situation.
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Slide captions:
Byzantium in the 6th century. Reign of Justinian I
Biography of Justinian I Politics Social structure Economy Spiritual life Terms Tasks Checking the d.z. 1) Cluster “Empire of Charlemagne” Terminological dictation
Byzantium in VI Politics Economy Social structure Spiritual life 1 2 3 4 5 IV V VI II III I Menu
Assignment Write down all the positive aspects of Justinian's reign in the blue circle, negative ones in the red circle, neutral ones in the general area. IV V VI II III I Menu
Assignment Using the knowledge gained in the lesson, draw a conclusion about the reign of Justinian and give reasons for it. IV V VI II III I Menu
Assignment Think and write a detailed answer to the question: Why are we talking about the Byzantine Empire, but about the empire of Charlemagne? Use the information from §3 pp. 27 – 31. 1) How was the Frankish Empire different from the Byzantine Empire? 2) What were common and different in the reigns of Justinian I and Charlemagne? To start, think about: 1 2 IV V VI II III I Menu
Terms Empire Emperor is the supreme ruler with absolute power. Augustus is the sovereign co-ruler of the emperor. Caesar is the emperor's junior co-ruler. Menu
Early life Justinian, at the age of 16, arrived in Constantinople to visit his uncle Justin, the chief of the emperor’s guard. IV V VI II III I Menu
Beginning of a career Soon the emperor died, and Justin managed to take the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, and appointed Justinian as chief of the guard. In 525, Justinian received the title of Caesar. In 527 he received the title of Augustus IV V VI II III I Menu
Justinian and Theodora Shortly before Justinian became emperor, he married the commoner Theodora, who is said to have been the daughter of a circus attendant. IV V VI II III I Menu
Theodora IV V VI II III I Menu
IV V VI II III I Menu
Repetition In 525, Justinian received the title... Justinian's wife's name was... In 527, Justinian received the title... Justinian's uncle's name was... Theodora Phaedra Caesar centurion Justin Augustinus Augustus master Julius IV V VI II III I Menu
Politics Assignment: Read paragraphs 3 and 4 of paragraph 6 (pp. 49 - 51); Based on the material you have read, fill out the table; Study the maps carefully and try to remember which territories Justinian annexed. IV V VI II III I Menu
Reign of Justinian I the Great IV V VI II III I Menu Question: What did Justinian I the Great do in the social, political, economic and spiritual spheres?
Revolt of Nika 532 IV V VI II III I Menu
Massive construction The destruction that took place during the Nika revolt allowed Justinian not only to rebuild Constantinople. The emperor left his name in history by building a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture - the Hagia Sophia. View IV V VI II III I Menu
Repetition. The Conquests of Justinian I IV V VI II III I Menu
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) Repetition. Domestic policy. Increase in taxes Wars with the Slavs Improving the lives of the people Persecution of pagans Strengthening Christianity Strengthening paganism Destruction of churches Expulsion of glorification from the empire Ban of Christianity Destruction of Constantinople Mass uprisings Loss of many lands Creation of a single set of laws Expansion of territory Mass construction IV V VI II III I Menu
Social structure IV V VI II III I Menu
2 IV V VI II III I Menu
3 IV V VI II III I Menu
4 IV V VI II III I Menu
5 IV V VI II III I Menu
6 IV V VI II III I Menu
On the topic: methodological developments, presentations and notes
History test for grade 7 on the topics of section No. 5 “The Golden Age of the reign of Catherine the Great and the reign of Paul I” of the textbook “History of Russia in the 17th – 18th centuries” by E. V. Pchelova, Moscow: “Russian School”.
Methodological development of test work No. 2 for grade 7 in history covers the topics of section No. 5 “The Golden Age of the reign of Catherine the Great and the reign of Paul I” of the textbook “History of Russia...
Slide 2
- 330 - proclamation of the new eastern capital of the Roman Empire - Constantinople.
- 395 - division of the Roman Empire into Western and Eastern.
- 476 - transfer of signs of imperial power to Constantinople.
Slide 3
Slide 4
Find in the textbook what the inhabitants of Byzantium called themselves and their state?
The Byzantines themselves called themselves Romans - in Greek "Romeans", and their power - the "Roman ("Roman") Empire"
Slide 5
Western sources throughout most of Byzantine history referred to it as the "Empire of the Greeks" due to its predominance of the Greek language, Hellenized population and culture. In Ancient Rus', Byzantium was usually called the “Greek Kingdom”, and its capital was Constantinople.
Slide 6
What was the fate of the Western Roman Empire?
If Rome fell under the onslaught of barbarian tribes in 476, then Byzantium existed until 1453, when Constantinople was captured by the Ottoman Turks.
Slide 7
Fill the table
Slide 8
Slide 9
Features of Byzantium
- Resisted under the onslaught of barbarian tribes. It existed as a single state for about 1000 years.
- Country of cities and crafts.
- The strong power of the ruler was maintained.
Slide 10
Having studied 3 features of Byzantium, compare them with similar aspects of life in Western Europe in the earlier Middle Ages. Who do you think was more powerful and prosperous - any state in Western Europe or Byzantium?
Slide 11
State system of Byzantium
- The form of government is monarchy.
- The emperor was called basileus.
- The power of the emperor was not hereditary.
- The chosen one was raised according to Roman custom on a shield.
- Later, the tradition of crowning the kingdom by a patriarch was born.
- Often the imperial throne was captured during a coup.
Slide 12
Reception of foreign ambassadors by the Emperor of Byzantium.
Slide 13
Justinian (527-565)
- Using the textbook, answer the questions:
- Name the main directions of Justinian's reforms.
- What goals did Justinian have?
- Did Justinian achieve his goals?
Slide 14
Justinian
Slide 15
Slide 16
Justinian's Rule
One state, one law, one religion.
Slide 17
- Justinian put an end to the trade in public positions.
- Reduced the number of provinces by connecting them.
- Strengthening cities, building roads.
- Rebuilt more than 150 cities.
- He fought against those who did not profess Christianity.
- Suppressed the Nika uprising in 532.
Slide 18
In 528, Justinian established a commission of experienced jurists and statesmen. The main role in it was played by the legal specialist Trebonian. The commission prepared a collection of imperial decrees - the Justinian Code.
Slide 19
By decree of the emperor, who wanted to surpass Solomon and the legendary Temple of Jerusalem, the burnt Hagia Sophia in Constantinople was completely rebuilt, striking in its beauty and splendor and remaining for a thousand years the most grandiose temple in the Christian world.
The reign of Justinian in the history of Byzantium appears as a colossal mistake. The mistake was that the normal and necessary course of events was interrupted. While the empire actually turned into an empire of the East, and the emperors of the 5th century, theoretically retaining rights to the western part of the empire, actually neglected them and sacrificed them in the name of saving the eastern part, Justinian from the very beginning of his reign turned his attention to and ambitious thoughts to the West, to the past. And to revive this dead part of the empire, he made such enormous efforts that he ruined its viable part.
Anastasius died in 518, leaving no offspring and without appointing a successor. The Senate and the army, by mutual agreement, placed the uneducated but brave Illyrian warrior Justin on the throne. He was helped, including with advice, by his nephew Justinian, also an Illyrian, but who received a good classical education. Although Justinian did not officially rule the empire until 527, he can be considered to have ruled since 518. He died in 565, and if we take into account the length of his reign, the 6th century deserves to be called the century of Justinian.
Contemporaries left us memories of Justinian. Not always coinciding with each other, they are united in assessing the extraordinary efficiency of the sovereign, his desire to delve into all matters himself, which is why his exhausted subordinates nicknamed him “the emperor who does not know sleep.” Powerful and arrogant, highly valuing fame, pomp and imperial prestige, Justinian was, of course, very pious and also well versed in theology. It is known that Empress Theodora, passionately loved by Justinian and crowned with him in 527, took a great part in governing the country. Once upon a time, she, the daughter of a bear keeper at the hippodrome, was a dancer, actress and, according to rumor, was distinguished by more than free morals. Having ascended the throne, Theodora devoted herself entirely to the greatness of her position, and her behavior was impeccable. Nothing characterizes her better than the words she was said to have uttered on the day when the formidable Nika rebellion nearly overthrew Justinian. He was ready to flee when his wife stopped him, saying: “When there is only one salvation left - flight, I would not want to run. Those who wear the crown must not survive it. I like the old saying that purple robes are a beautiful shroud.”
Justinian had two goals. As Roman Emperor, he wanted to restore the empire to all its integrity and prosperity. As a Christian emperor, he considered it fair to force everyone to adhere to the Orthodox faith and to decide for himself sovereignly what the doctrine and organization of the church should be. This explains all of Justinian's actions. His foreign policy was entirely subordinated to the design of reconquering the West, while his legislative and administrative activities were aimed at returning the empire to its lands and greatness. The glorious Roman past served as a model for Justinian. As for religious problems, Rome did not offer any solution - and Justinian hesitated. He himself was inclined to agree with the West and the papacy. Theodora, perhaps more perspicacious and better understanding the importance of the eastern provinces, advised a policy favorable to the Monophysites.